THE PROGENITOR OF THE FORMAL WORSHIP OF SRI SAI BABA: SRI TATYA SAHEB NOOLKAR

[Guest guest]

It is impossible to describe the mutual love and esteem Sri Sai Baba and

Noolkar had for each other. Baba used to call Noolkar " Tatya ba" or "Mhatra

(old man)". The devotees would keep their offerings before Baba during the

arati. Sometimes Baba would say, "Today I want only the poli offering of

Tatya ba". He would unerringly pickup Tatya's polis from among the pile of

polis placed by the devotees and eat them with relish. The devotees would be

astounded by the divine power of Baba who could unerringly pick up the

NoolkarÕs offering from amongst all the other offerings.

Tatya Saheb Noolkar had a long-standing desire to hear from Sri Sai Baba a

mantra for him to repeat. Baba, who knew of his desire, uttered some mantra

and Noolkar repeated this as his personal mantra until the end of his life.

He also had a desire that Baba should present him with some article which he

could worship daily and Baba fulfilled this desire too. He called for

Noolkar on the night of Datta Jayanti around 9 oÕclock in the evening. Baba

was in such impatient anticipation of Noolkar's arrival that he sent two

more people for Noolkar before the first one reached the Wada to convey his

message. Noolkar hurried to the masjid. Baba seized him by the hand and

taking him to where the kafnis were stacked, picked up one and covered him.

He said, "Tatya ba, keep this kafni with you. This will save you from the

bitter wind and the cold." Tatya Noolkar who was enchanted by the infinite

love and kindness showered upon him by Baba started weeping and placed his

head reverently at Baba's feet. He felt that in a way this was Baba granting

him an initiation in to monkhood or sanyasa. Baba's love and kindness

towards Noolkar were of such a stature that Noolkar settled permanently at

Shirdi.

While Tatya Saheb Noolkar was the Assistant Judge at Pandharpur, he tried a

case regarding the rights of worship at Pandharpur. He always believed

honesty and morality to be his two eyes. He did not succumb to pressure from

any quarter and gave a just verdict in that case. He took leave after that

sensational case and went to Shirdi. As he saw him Baba said, "Tatya ba have

you come? It is good that you are here. How long are you going to stay?"

Noolkar replied with great humility, "Baba! I do not wish to go anywhere

else from here. Please let me stay at Shirdi henceforth. I am coming here

after delivering a verdict about the holy Panduranga Temple. Let me not

become involved in the normal machinations and litigation of mere men and

hold a pen again to write judgments. Let that judgment, pertaining to the

divine Pandharpur be my last one." Baba smiled and said, "Let it be so."

Noolkar resigned and stayed on at Shirdi.

 

 

(To be continued)....

 

Source (source www.saipatham.org) Saipatham August 2002 Magazine